Middleism.org

From my New Book Middleism Eschatology :

A Premillianlism / Post-Trib Second Coming

When people begin to set dates for his coming as Harold Camping
did or profess to know who the beast is or other such nonsense
it becomes a good idea to avoid such men.
Understanding in these present times we begin by recognizing the
world’s corruption will grow darker and darker and the influence
of the church becomes nonexistent as we have become more and
more like the world in behaviors and attitudes. This can be seen
currently in the divide in the church between those who falsely
accept abortion or homosexuality or the appointment of a
transgender person as an “Elder” in the United Methodist church.
The failures from the pulpit, not only by example but also
theology and doctrine, has made the world reject any authority
of the church by the nature of the conflict from one
denomination to another.
The existence of many denomination proves to the world that even
the church doesn’t and cannot get it right. This does not mean
every denomination is wrong, but many people fail to see the
distinction that some denominations differ based on purpose and
mission and not necessarily doctrine. The one thing every
mainstream Christian denomination holds to is the essentials of
what is Christianity as expressed by the Nicene or Apostles
creed. We can have differing opinions over secondary issues like
baptism: sprinkling or emersion since these are not salvific
issues but we do not divide over trinity, incarnation, or deity
of Christ. As every mainstream denomination holds to these
truths to be called Christian. Every cult is labeled as such as
they deny one of these essential doctrines. Yet the world does
not see these distinctions.
The whole question of “are we in the last days” or not, is a
difficult question to answer without prophetical biblical
specifics of events that happen just prior to this tribulation
period. We can believe that we are in the last days beginning in
A.D. 33 with the birth of the church as it can be said the earth
has more year’s past than what is in front. We generally derive
a chronology from the book of Revelation that gives us an
overall idea but until these events begin to unfold we presently
see through a mirror darkly.

The Olivet Discourse

The Olivet Discourse found in Mathew 24, (Mark 13, Luke 21)
becomes Christ own prediction of the Judgment soon to come upon
Jerusalem which is did in A.D. 70. The Early Church Father's all
believed these prophecies came true yet also believed in a future
coming of Christ. The Modern Church today has fallen into a
quandary. They all believe the Olivet speaks of a Second Coming of
Christ, therefore the prophecies must all be future. The Preterist
also looks at the timing statement made by Jesus that "all these
prophecies must be fulfilled in the "generation". To them all
these prophecies then are in the past, which includes the idea Jesus
returned a second time in that Generation, ie: The events of A.D. 70
was also the second coming. Now since Revelation also talks about
the Second Coming therefore all of the Revelation events must also
come to pass at the same time, in A.D. 70. What I argue in my book
is why all these events listed in the Olivet are all past.

The revelation of John

The Book of Revelation begins with an introduction to what is
contained in the pages, warnings to the seven churches of what needs
change, and a series of events that are to happen in the last days.
Yes we believe these Revelations are all about our future and not
the past. When many details are presented of what is to happen they
simply cannot be reconciled with the events of A.D. 70. In A.D. 70
the Roman army came and besieged Jerusalem and the destroyed it and
the temple. In Revelation Christ returns with his army of saints in
defense of the City. It is not logical to claim God sent an army to
Judge and destroy Jerusalem then at the same time say that Jesus
comes with his army to defend Jerusalem from the very army sent by
God? Of Course the Preterist has to literalize the coming of the
Roman army but spiritualize the second coming of Christ, which means
it never happened literally but spiritually. It all happened in the
"spiritual" realm and no one saw it or observed this "coming". This
is one of the major reasons Preterism s to rejected. They
spiritualize the literal events in saying they came when they did
not.

Dating the Book of Revelation

In Revelation 1 John tells us he was on the Island of Patmos when
he received the Revelation and was able to write it all down once he
was released and returned to his home church in Ephesus. The Early
Church Fathers testify that John was on the island during the reign
of Domitian until his death in A.D. 68. When he was released, John
soon died between 98 and 100 A.D. So we have a problem. If
Revelation was written after A.D. 70 about events to happen then
those events could not have happened in A.D. 70. So it becomes a
Preterists conundrum. Their answer is to assert the late date is in
error by "uninspired" people who were too apostate to not know Jesus
returned in A.D. 70, which of course would have included John, so
now the Preterist does everything to prove John died, as did all the
apostles, before A.D. 70. Yet we have Barnabus writing about the
destruction and still looking forward to the second coming. The
Preterist answer is again to call the letter fake. The desperation
employed by Preterist to prove all church historical accounts wrong
is driven by the need to prove Jesus retuned in A.D. 70. Instead of
answering the problem they simple create more.

Chronology;

Tribulation: 7 years of Judgments against this world for
the sins of the nations.

Second Coming: Is at the end of the Tribulation.

"Resurrection of the Dead" / Rapture: At his coming those who
have died as Christians are raised from the dead. Those who are
alive are changed. Both groups meet him in the air as Christ comes
to rule over the nations from Jerusalem.

Millennial Reign; Christ rules over the nations for a 1,000
years. Satan is in a "prison" and all the nations serve Christ.

Great White Throne Judgment; At the end of the 1,000 years satan
is released and deceives many people and nations who come against
Christ. Fire comes down and burn this world up and destroys it as
did water in Noah's day. In a moment every person who has ever lived
will stand before the Lord in Judgment. The Unjust are sent into
outer darkness, the Lake of Fire. The Just enter into his presence
for reward.

The New Heavens and Earth; This Earth is remade, created to be
like new. The Just, described as a city, descend out of heaven to
this new Earth where we live face to face with God, as did Adam in
the garden and real life begins, where Jesus says it has not even
entered our imagination what he has in store for us.

Order today

"Son of Man Coming on Clouds:

Quite simply in my book I argue, with many other scholars, that
the phrase "son of man coming on clouds" in Mathew 24:34 has nothing
to do with a second coming but being quote from Daniel 7:13-14
implies this coming is to the father, which he did in his ascension
after His resurrection from the dead. This phrase was never to be
about a "second coming" where Jesus is coming back but is intended
to talk about his reign in heaven at the right of the father.
Therefore the Olivet never ever speaks about a second coming but
instead point out the fact, because this generation rejected him, he
would ascend to heaven judgment upon them and also establishing a
new Covenant by ending the old.

His Second Appearing

In order for Preterist to justify he came in A.D. 70, they have
to start by denying he was to appear at his coming. They have to
deny the bodily existence as fully man in heaven or they can not
prove he came invisible since a bodily form demands he would have
been seen. They then also have to prove the Resurrection of the dead
is also an invisible event, or completely change the meaning of
"resurrection of the dead". So for complete answers and a full
apologetic over these topics and more....